A Sellers market in center field

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

May 21, 2008|MATT KOPSEA Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Displaying good judgment has never been an issue for Kenny Sellers. "I've always had the ability to react quickly, which has allowed me to be able to get good jumps on fly balls," explained Adams' senior center fielder. "Being able to judge where the ball is going has never been a problem. I always try to watch what type of pitch the catcher is calling and make sure I'm always in the right spot. I played a little bit in the infield when I was growing, but I just feel more comfortable being in center field. I feel like I'm in control because I get to see everything that's going on out there." Tracking down fly balls has become second nature for the left-hander Sellers, who has 54 putouts and no errors this season. With the aid of his trusty glove, the three-year starter has been able to help turn around the fortunes of the Adams baseball team. After posting a frustrating 6-20 mark last season, the Eagles (13-13) have more than doubled their win total heading into the final week of the regular season. "We've always been a pretty young team in terms of experience," Sellers said after last Thursday's 4-0 loss to Elkhart Central. "I think this the difference this year is we had eight returning players that got a lot of playing time last season. This helped because we didn't have to spend a lot of time trying to get used to playing together. Getting off to a good start (4-1) also helped because it gave us the confidence we've sometimes lacked in the past." In addition to stellar defensive work, Sellers has also been at the top of his game offensively with .295 batting average and a .521 on-base percentage. He has one home run, 10 RBIs, four doubles, three triples, and eight stolen bases. "I like batting first because it means that I'm the one responsible for getting us going offensively," Sellers said. "I'm kind of fast, so I can give us a spark by bunting for a hit, stealing a base, or taking that extra base when needed after a hit. "I've always been a pretty good contact hitter, but I'm not one that tries to hit for a lot of power. I just try to put the bat on the ball and then use my speed to make things happen." Having a gamer like Sellers to lean on has certainly helped second-year Adams coach Adam Zache. "Kenny's one of the smartest and intense kids I've ever worked with," Zache said. "He's definitely been a key component in our success this season both offensively and defensively. He's come up with a lot of key hits for us, and no one gets a better jump on a fly ball than he does. "That's why replacing him next year is going to be so tough. He's not only a great kid, but a great leader as well." While an opportunity to earn a spot on the Indiana State roster awaits Sellers this fall, he is only concerned with the present at this moment. "It's really hard to believe that this is almost ready to come to an end for me," reflected Sellers about his playing days at Adams. "As excited as I am about getting a chance to play (NCAA) D-I baseball, I believe I've got some unfinished business to take care of here first. "We've shown this year that we can compete with just about everyone on our schedule. I believe we can make some noise, but we've got finish up (the regular season) strong and regain some confidence we've lost recently (with three straight losses)." Gone, but not forgotten Washington paid tribute to former outfielder Fred Jones by permanently retiring his No. 23 jersey this past Saturday morning prior to the Panthers' contest with Bethany Christian. A 2007 WHS graduate, Jones passed away on April 6 after being accidentally shot on the Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne University campus. Jones' name and number will be remembered on a banner that will hang in the outfield at Washington's Redling Field next to former Panther players Paul DeGuch (No. 42) and Bryan Przybylski (No. 48). Area standings through May 18 Northern Indiana Conference x-Penn 16-0, Mishawaka 10-5, Marian 9-7, St. Joseph's 9-7, Clay 8-8, Washington 6-10, Elkhart Central 5-10, Adams 5-11, Riley 3-13. Northern Lakes Conference x-Northridge 13-1, Elkhart Memorial 10-4, Warsaw 8-5, Goshen 8-6, NorthWood 5-8, Plymouth 5-9, Wawasee 4-10, Concord 2-12. Northern State Conference x-Jimtown 13-1, New Prairie 10-4, Bremen 9-5, Glenn 8-6, Knox 4-8, Triton 4-8, LaVille 3-11, Culver 2-10.